Grapple construction



Filed May 23. 1960 G. J. BAUDHUIN ETAL GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 15, 1964 G. J. BAUDHUIN ETAL 3,161,309

GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 23, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 15, 1964Filed May 23. 1960 G. J. BAUDHUIN ETAL GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION 5Sheets-Sheet 5 1964 G. J. BAUDHUIN ETAL 3,161,309

GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 23, 1960 Dec. 1964 G. J.BAUDHUIN ETAL 3,16

GRAPPLE CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fi;ed May 23, 1960 s 0 n: me. 3.m: oaN ENM r A H W 7 W W NoN W 3: E 3 a: S.

3,161,39 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 fitiee 3,161,309 GRAPPI CNSTRUCTONGeorge J. Bandhnin and Arnoid C. Petersen, Stnrgeon Bay, Wis.,assignors, by inesne assignments, to Drott Manufacturing Corporation,Miiwanaee, Wis., a corporation cf Wisconsin Filed May 23, 1960, Ser. No.30,947 11 aims. (Cl. 2l4-392) This invention relates to load handlingapparatus and particularly to an improved grapple mechanism for use on amobile lift for bandling large articles.

An important object of this invention is .to provide a lift apparatus ofthe type which is adapted to lift and transfer large units such as trucktrailers, trailer bodies and the like between a railroad car and aloading station, and which has an improved grapple which enableshandling of such large bodies without necessitating special fittings onthe bodies.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grapple for handlinglarge units such as truck bodies and the like, and Which does notrequire a high overhead clearance when moving the grapple laterally intoand out of position over the body or unit.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a grapple forlarge objects and which has depending arms for engaging and supportingthe body and in which the arms are foldable to a generally horizontalposition to facilitate movement of the grapple into and out et positionover the body.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a grapple forhandling large objects, in which the grapple can pick up and transferthe object even when there is some misalignment between the object andthe grapple.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a grapple havingdepending load engaging arms for supporting the object and in Which thearms are supported to enable limited movement in a directionlongitudinally and crosswise of the lift apparatus to therebyaccommodate miner shifting of the load due to inertia when moving thesame without overstressing of the grapple mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide a grapple constructionhaving opposed pairs of load sup porting arms which are movable towardand away from each other into and out of a load supporting position andin Which the arms are also swingable to a generally horizontal retractedposition, and which grapple has a novel arrangement for manipulating thearms to effect movement of the same into and out of their articlesupporting position.

A still further object is to provide a load handling apparatus in whichthe load is supported on carriages movable on horizontal beams Which arevertically movable in upright frames and which are guided by the tramessecurely to support the load.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of thisinvention Will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when takcnin connection With the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a mobile lift device having a loadsupporting grapple apparatus mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the grapple apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the grapple apparatus illustratingthe manner in which it is supported on the mobile lift;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the left side of the pp FIG. 5 is afragmentary view taken on the plane 55 of FIG. 3 illustrating on alarger scale the monnting of the grapple arms on the frame;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the plane 65of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane77 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating the hydraulic circuit for themobile lift and grapple.

The load handling apparatus of the present invention is generallyadapted for use in handling relatively large objects such as trucktrailers, demountable trailer bodies, and the like, to lift the same andmove the bodies laterally and/or longitudinally for loading andunloading the same from a loading station, railroad car or the like, or,alternatively, to transport the bodies from one location to another. Theload handling apparatus includes a grapple apparatus 10 for engaging andsupporting the bodies, and which grapple apparatus is generally adaptedfor use with a mobile lift of the type which has mechanism for liftingthe grapple and for moving the grapple laterally into and out ofposition over the body to be transported. One suitable mobile lift isshown in FIG. 1 and is of the type generally disclosed in the patent toGeorge J. Baudhuin No. 2,909,298, and in the copending application ofGeorge J. Baudhuin and Arnold C. Petersen, Serial No. 854,921, filedNovember 23, 1959, now abandoned, for Mobile Lift Device. In general,the mobile lift includes first and second gantrytype frames designated11 and 12, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the front and rearframes, it being understood that this designation is for convenience indescribing the invention and that the mobile lift can be propelled ineither direction. The front frame 11 includes spaced legs 13 and 14,herein shown formed With a box-type cross-section, and a connectingbridge 15 having a generally Hshaped cross-section. Spaced side members17 and 18 are attached to the legs 13 and 14 and extend rearwardlytherefrom. The rear frame 12 is similarly constructed and includesspaced legs 21 and 22 and a connecting bridge 23. The rear trame isadvantageously mounted for adjustment toward and away from the fronttrame and for this purpose is attached to elongated bearing members orsleeves 27 which are slidable along the side members 17 and 18 andarranged to be locked in adjusted position, as by screws 28. Front andrear wheel mounting brackets or forks 32 and 33 are provided forsupporting the lift device on wheels 34 and 35, respectively. At leastone set of wheels is mounted for steering movement and as herein shownthe front wheel forks 32 are mounted for turning movement about an axisaligned With the legs 12 and 13 of the front frame li). Turning of thefront Wheels is eifected by hydraulic steering cylinders 38L and 38R onthe left and right sides of the vehicle respectively. As best shown inFIG. 8, the steering cylinders are pivotally connected at 39 to arespective one of the side members 17 and 18 and a piston rod 41 on eachcylinder is pivotally attached to a respective one of the front wheelforks 32 at a point spaced radially outwardly of the pivot axis of theforks. Fluid is supplied to the cylinders under the control of a 4Wayvalve 45 which is rotatable about an upright axis 4541 and is connectedthrough a linkage diagrammatically indicated at 46 to one of the frontwheel forks for turning movement there- With. The valve has a pressureinlet 47, a return outlet 48 and service outlets 49 and Si). The valvealso includes an operating lever 51 which is pivotal relative to thevalve 4% about an upright axis and is operative when moved in onedirection from its neutral position to supply fluid pressure from theinlet port 47 to the line 53 leading to the left cylinder 38L and tosimultaneously exhaust fluid from the' right cylinder 38R throughconduit 54 and return port 48. The ends of the cylinders at the otherside of the pistons therein arehydraulicaly interconnected by a line 56so that fluid d1splced from one cylinder will be forced into the othercylinder to efiect simultaneous substantially equal movement of thepistons in :relatively opposite directions. Drivmg 'of the mobile liftapparatus .may be efiected in anv'desxred manner and, as -herein shown,hydraulic motors 59R and 59L are mounted on brackets 61 attached to therespective front wheel forks 32 for turning movement are driven byhydraulic motors 74F and 74R respectively. The cables 71 and 72 extendover idlerpulleys 75 at the upper right corner of the respective frames,and over sheaves 76 and 77cm the bridges andcross beams respectively, tofaise and lower the cross beam in response to operation of the winches.In order to minimize movement of the cross beams in a directronlongitudinally of the winch, the ends of the cross beams have guidebrackets 78 theron which are guidably supported on vertical rails 79attached to the upright .posts 213 and 14 of the frames. Caniages 81 aremounted by rollers 82 on each of the cross beams 65 and 66 4 channelshaped cross mernber 116 is secured to the outer end of the plates 113andend plates 1'18 are a'flixcd to the outer ends of the cross member.Ishaped crosspieces 119 extend between the respective end plates 118 andthe longitudinal members 108, in parallel spaced relation to the crossmember 116. Bearings l2l are provided in the end plates 118 and arealigned with the bearings 115 in the'plates 113. A pair of aligned shaftsections 122 are rot-atabl supported in the beauings 115 and 121 forturning about an axis extending crosswise of the frame.- A grappler armdrive plate 123 is non-rotatably attached to a sleeve 124 secured to theouter end of each of the shaft sections 122 and a key 125 extends into aperipheral slot 126 in the for movement therealong and the giapple 10 ismounted 7 :on the carriages for inovement therewith crosswse of themobile lift. The carriages are power operated by means of front and reartraverse winches 83F and 83R mounted on each of the cross beams 65 and66, and the front and rear traverse winches include .drums 84F and 84Rwhich are driven by an hydraulic motor 85F and 85R respectively througha suitablesspeed reducrng mechanism. A cable 86 is -terminally attachedto each of the carriages :81 and entrained overpulleys 87 and 88 at eachend of the respective cross beams, 1the 1ntermediate portion of thecable being Wound around the drums 84F and 84R so that'rottttion of thedrurns will reversibly move the carriages along the Cross beam.

The mobile lift app-aratuS is specfically designed for use intransferring truck trailers,and demountable trailer the stub shafts inthe respective shaft section.

sleeve tohold the shft sections againgt axial .sliding movement whilepeflrmitting,free rotation thereof. A grappler arm mouhting bracket,including a plate 128 and a tubular stub' shaftl29, is supported at theouter ends of each of the shaft sections 122 for Iimited rotationrelative thereto. A key 131 extends into a slot 132 in the stub shaftstonon-slidably and rotatably support As is apparentfrom FIG. 6, the plate128 overlies the drive plate 123 and a pin 133is1 mounted on the driveplate and extends through an arcuately elongated slot 134 (see FIG. 5)in the bracket plate to provide a lostmotion type drive betwtcn theplates 123 and 128.

The bracket 128 also includes spaced fianges 136 which xtend laterallyfrom the bracket plate 128. Elongated grappler arms 1'37 are pivotallysupported by a pin 138 between the flanges 136 for movement about anaxis diszposed transverse to the axisof the Shaft sections 122 andlaterally offset thereabwe as is clearly"shown in FIG. 6.

Thegrappler arms each have an angulted upper end portion'139 whichextends downwardlyand outwardly from the respective mounting bracket andan elongated generally straight lower endportion 140. The grapple armshave a gnerall box-type cross-section and a sheave 141 (FIG. 6) isrotatably supportedby a pin 142 inside the grapple arm adjacentthejuncture of the upper end portion 139 With the lower end portion 140. Anopening 143 is formed at the inner side ofthe armsafljacent the .pulleysor sheaves 141, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. .GencrallyL-shaped support shoes 145 are mounted on the lower ends of each of thearms 137 and are preferably supported by means of 21 pin 146 for limitedtumingmovemefl about an axis 'extending crosswise of bodies onto and offfrom railroad cars and for this purbody B to be moved laterally onto andoff from the r railroad car or loading platfrm. The load handling'grapple 10 is designed to facilitate movement 'of the grapple apparatuscrosswise into and out of a position over the body B, and to selectivelyengage or disengage the body to enable transferring or transporting ofthe same.

The grapple apparatus 10 includes a framehaving front and rear frame endsections 101F and 101R which are adjustably connected to each other by abeam 102. The end frame sections are sirnilarly constructed and likenumerals are used to designate corresponding' parts. The beam 102includes inner and outer telescopic members 105 and 106 which areattached to a respective one of the end frame sections and aretelescopially interconnected. A fstening means such as a pin 107 ismounted on the outer section 106 and is adapted to be received inopenings 108 (FIG. 4) in the inner section 105 to releasably secuie thesections in adjusted position. The end frame sections 101.each includespaced longitudinally extending channel members 108 which are connectedto the respective beam sections by a transition piece 111. Plates 113are attached to the outer ends ofthe longitudinalmembers 108 and, asshown in FIG. 6, havealigned bearings 115 mounted thereon. A

the longitudinal axis of the frame to enable the 'shoes to tilt in adirection fore and aft of the vehicle to align the same With theunderside of the object B being lifted.

The grapple arms 137-are thus supported on the brackets for swingingmovement toward and away from each othenbetWeen the load supportingposition shown in 'solid lines in FIG. 3 t0 a release position shown indotted fines.

The arms areyieldably Urge d to their rele'ase position by means of apair of spfings 151 (FIG. 6), each of which are disposed in a housinghaving telescopic sections 152 and 153 that are terminally attached tothe grappler arm support bracket and the grappler arm. As best shown inFIG. 2, the springs are disposed at relatively opposite sides of eacharm 137 and one housing section 152 is pivotally attached to ears 154 onthe arm 137 and the other housing section 153 is attached by a 'fitting155 to the bracket plate.128. The springs 151 yieldably urge thearmsoutWrdly and a stop rod 157 'is pivotally attached by a pin 158between the flanges 136*and extends through opening 143 and'the bpening158 in the arm; An adjustable stop 'nut 1'61 is threaded on the outerend of the rod and is adjustable therealong to limit the outwardswinging movement of each of the arms.

The grappler arms 137 are drawn together by. an apparatus whichequalizes the pressure applied to the opposing pair of arms. For thispurpose, a cable (FIG. 6.) is

entrained over the sheaves 141 of each opposing pair of pulleys and isterminally attached to an anchor pin 166 mounted on the flanges 136 ofthe mounting bracket. The cables extend through the tubular shaftsections 122 and over upper and lower pulleys 167 and 168 locatedmedially between the ends of the shaft sections. The pulleys 167 and 168are rotatably mounted by a pin 169 on the pulley support plate 171located between the plates 113. The pulley support plate 171 is rigidlysecured as by welding to the cross member 116 and to a crosspiece 173which extends between the plates 113, and an opening 174 is provided inthe crosspiece 173 to permit the cable 165 to extend therethrough. Thecable 165 extends over an equalizing sheave 176 which is supported in ayoke 177. The yoke has a rod 178 attached thereto and which extendsthrough a sleeve 179 having lateral trunnions 181 which are supportedbetween spaced bell cranks 182 on the respective frame end sections. Thebell cranks, as shown in FIG. 7, are pivotally mounted by a pin 183 on abracket 184. The latter bracket is attached to channeI-shapedcross-pieces 185 and 186 which extemd between the longitudinallyextending members 108. As is apparent, when the equalizing sheave 176 isdrawn to the right as shown in FIG. 7, the cable 165 will draw the armstoward each other against the bias of the springs 151. Since the cablepasses freely over the equalizing sheave, the pressure applied to theopposed pair of arms will be equalized and, if one arm engages the loadbefore the other arm of that pair, as when the grapple is mot centeredover the load, then one arm will be drawn a relatively greater distanceinwardly to properly pick up the load. When the arms are drawm imwardly,the equalizing sheave will maintain substantially the same spaeingbetween the arms, but will permit limited relative parallel shifting ofthe arms. Consequently, the arms can swing relative to the grapple whenthe load is lifted t0 properly center the load with respect to thegrapple frame, and to also permit inertial shiftimg of the load relativeto the frame when the grapple frame is moved laterally.

The arms 137 are also adapted to be swung about the axis of the shaftsections 122 between the dependimg position shown in solid limes in FIG.4, and the retracted position shown in dotted lines in that figure, toenable the grapple to be moved crosswise of the load such as the trailerB without requiring the grapple to be elevated the full length of thearms above the load. This is achieved by means of crank plates 191(FIGS. 6 and 7) which are attached as by fasteners 192 to the adjacentends of the aligned pairs of shaft sections 122. The pin 133 on thedrive plate 123 and the slot 134 of the grappler arm mounting bracketspermits limited angular lestmot-ion of the grappler arms in a directionlongitudinally of the vehicle to accommodate inertial shifting of theload when moving the sarne in a direction longitudinally of the frame.However, when the shaft 122 is turned through a relatively greater anglethan the lest-motion provided by the pin and slot construction, the armsare swung upwardly to a generally horizontal position disposedsubstantially in the plane of the frame. When the arms are in thisposition, the grapple can be moved laterally into and out of a positionover the object being moved.

In order to simplify the operation of the grapple, and to also redncethe number of hydraulic lines which must be extended to the grappleframe, a common operator is provided for controlling movememt of theopposed pairs of arms toward and away from each other and for alsoswinging the front and rear pairs of arms upwardly to their retractedposition. The common operator comprises fiuid cylinders designated 193Fand 193R for the front and rear pairs of arms respectively. Eachcylinder has a piston rod 195 and, as shown in FIG. 7, one end of thecylinder 193 is pivotally attached by a pin 196 between the bell cranks182, and the rod 195 is connected by a yoke 198 to a crank pin 199connected to the crank plates 191. A pair of adjustahle stop screws 201are threaded in the cross member 116 and are arranged to engage stopfingers 200 formed on each of the crank plates 191 to limit downwardswinging movement of the respective grappler arm. A second pair of stopscrews 202 are also threaded in the cross member 116 and arranged toengage the respective one of the crank plates 191 to limit upwardswinging movement of the grappler arms. A third adjustable stop screw203 is threaded in a bracket 204 on the crosspiece 186 and is arrangedto engage the bell crank 182 to limit movement of the same duringextension of the fiuid operator. As previously noted, the arms are movedto their lower position and are draWn together, when the fiuid operatoris retracted as shown in solid limes in FIG. 7. As fiuid is supplied tothe operator to extend the same, the weight of the grappler arms 1337will tend to inhibit upward swimging movement so that the operator willinitially move the bell crank toward the dotted position shown in FIG.7. This allows the equalizimg sheave 176 to move outwardly, that is tothe left as viewed in FIG. 7, and enables the grappler arms 137 to swingontwardly under the bias of springs 151. When the bell crank 182 engagesthe stop screw 203, further extension of the bell crank will rotate theshaft sections 122 and swing the arms upwardly to a generally horizontalposition shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. As the arms reach theirretracted position, the crank plates 191 engage the stop fingers 202 tostop further movement of the drive plates 123. When the operator isthereafter retracted, the weight of the arms will initially draw thearms downwardly until the stop finger 200 on the crank plates engagesthe stop 201. Funther retraction of the operaxtor will swing the bellcrank to the full lime position shown in FIG. 7 and draw the armsimwardly to their load supporting position shown in full lines in FIG.3.

The end frarne sections are supported on the carriages 81 by spaced setsof links 211 which extend between the cross-pieces 119 and therespective carriage 81. The links permit limited angular shifting of theframe relative to the respective carriage, to facilitate alignment ofthe grapple frame with the object to be lifted. An hydraulic limesupport arm 221 is pivotally mounted by a pin 222 on the support trameintermediate the ends of the latter, for horizontal swinging movementrelative to the frame. The hose suppont arm extends to a point adjacentone end of the grapple frame and the hydraulic supply and return lines274 and 275 extend from a point intermediate the ends of the cross beams65 through a slack loop onto the support arm. The other ends 274F, 275Fand 274R and 275R of the hydraulic lines are connected to the fiuidoperators at the front and rear ends of the grapple trame.

Reference is now made more specifically to the hydraulic control circuitshown in FIG. 8. Fluid is supplied to the several hydraulic motors andoperators from three pumps designated 231, 232 and 233, each havingtheir imlets connected to a reservoir 234 and their outlets respectivelyconnected to supply limes 235, 236 and 237. The left and right drivemotors 59L and 59R are connected through conduits 241 and 242 to flowreversing valves 243L and 243R. The valve 243R is connected throngh aconduit 244 to the supply lime 237 and the valve 243L is connectedthrough a conduit 245 to the supply line 236. The valves are eachotherwise connected through conduits 247 to the return line 248. Thefront and rear hoist motors 74F and 74R are connected through conduits251 and 252 to flow reversing valves 253R and 253F. The valve 253F isconnected through conduit 254 to the sup ply line 237 and the valve 253Ris connected through conduit 255 to the supply line 236. The valves 253each have a conduit 257 connected to the return line 248. Similarly, thefront and rear traverse winch motors F and 85R are connected throughconduits 261 and 262 to reversing Valves 263R and 263F. Fluid issupplied t0 valve 263F from stipply line :237 and 'to Valve 263R fromsupply line 236, and return lines 265 connect each of these valves .tothe return line 243. The other pump 231 has its supply line 235connected to the inlet po i-t 47 or the steering valve 45, and thereturn port 48 of the steering valve is connected 'through conduit 268back to the reservoir'234. The purnp 231 also is advntageously used tosupply fluid to the frontand rear grapple'operatirg r cylinders 193F and193R respectively. As 'shown, the supply line 235 is connected 'througha conduit 271 to a flow reversing valve 272, and a return lime273connects the valve 272 back to (the teservoir 234. The controlledoutlet ports et the valve 272 are connected through a conduit 274 andbranch limes 274R and 274F =to both of the grapple 'cyfinders 193, atoneside of the piston therein. The other controlled line 275 is connectedthrough branches 275F and 275R to both of the grapple cylinders at theother side of the pistons therein, and adjustable flow control valves278 are .provided in each 'of the branches to enable independentadjustment of the rate of flow to each of the ends of the cylinders.Gross relief valves 279 and 280 are connected between the controlledlimes 274 and 275 to limit the maximum pressure supplied to the grapplecylinders. A t 7 From the foregoing itis thought that theoperafion ofthe load handling apparatus Will bercadfly understod.

of the load.

swing said arms to said second position to release and clear the load t0enabl the frame to be moved crosswise 2. A load handling apparatuscomprisinga frame, shaft meansextending crosswise of the longitudinalaxis of said frame and rotatably supported thereon, a pair of elongatedload carrying arms, arm mounting brackets mounted adjacent opposite endsof said shaft means for turning moveresponse to turning of said shaftmeans, means mounting Sld arms adjacent one end thereof on said mountingr braclzets for .swinging movement about an axistransverse The mobilelift can be steered and propelled under the 7 control of valves 45and243L and 243R to locate the lift 7 in a position straddlinga railroadcar ora l'oading station; The grapple apparatus 10 is theno}aeratedflder the control cf valve 272 to swing the arms 140 doWnwardlyto a 'position along opposite sides of the article'to be .picked up andthe opposed pairs of arms thereafier draWn inwardly to the Solid lineposition shown in FIG. 3 to enr gage and support the article. Thearticle is then=levated by the hoists under the control of valves 253Fand 253R,

and the article is moved latrlly by the traverse Winch under the controlof valves 263F and 263R. :By reason of the limited lest motionbetweenthearm mounting plate 128 and the drive plate 123, and the equlizingaction of the equalizer sheave 176, the arms can shift somewhat relativeto the grapple frame due to inertia of the load.

Further, the front and rear pairs of grapple arms can be can be movedlaterally onto or off from .the loadiflg station or railrOad car, or,alternatively, the lift:canbe operated to transport the load t0 adierent location. Sinoe the grapple arms can be folded to a generallyhorizontal position, they do not ir1terfere with'the movement of thegrapple frame into andout of a postion above the object to be moved.'Preferably, the stops 202 which control the upper positions of thegrapple arms are adjusted so'' 'that the arms at the front and rear ofthe frame are Ofiset ing generallylongitudinally ofsaid frame. 30 V -tothe axis of said shaft means toward and away from each other'into andoutof =aload supporting portion, means connected to said arms for movingsaid arms toward and, awavfrom each other, and means connected to saidshft means for turning said shaft means to swing said arms. between aload carrying position extending transverseto said frame and a retractedposition extend- 3. A load handlingapparatus comprising a frame, shaftmeans extending crosswise of the longitudinal axis of said trame androtatably supported thereon, a pair of elongated load carrying arms,airmmounting brackets mounted adjacent opposite ends of saidshaft meansfor turning movement about the axisof-saidshaftmeans, meansconnectingsaid shaft means tosaid bracketstfor turning the latter in responsetoturningof said shaft means, means mounting said arms adjacent one endthereof on said mounting brackets for swinging,movement about an axistransverse to the axis of said shaft means toward and away from eachother into and out-ofa load supporting position, and

a common power operated means connected to saidshaft and to saidarms'tor swingingsaid arms toward each other and for turning said shaftto swing the arms between a load carr'yingposition extending transverseto said frame and a r'etracted position extending.gebnerallylongitudinally of saidframe.

4. A load handling apparatus comprising a frame, a

pair of axially spaced 'tubular shatt sections rotatably ing about theaxis of the shaft sections, means'cohnecting the shaft sections to saidbracketsto turn the latter in response to turning offthe"shaft, a pairof elongated load "carrying arms; means 'mounting one end portion ofsaid .arrnson arespective one of saidbrackets for swinging from eachother when the arms are raised, as showriin dotted limes in FIG. 4, sothat the arms do not interfere With each other when the frame members105 and 106 are adjusted to a position in whiCh the grapple arms wou l doverlap.

Wc daim: v 1. A load handling apparafus comprising a frame, at least onepair of opposed load :spporting arms laterally spaced apart and defininga plane, means mounting said a load therebetween and a secondpbsitionextending generally longitudinally of the frame to clear theload and enable the frame to bemoved into and out et position over theload, said arm mounting means including means for .=su}pport ing saidarms torlimited relative :movement tomovement about an*axis olset frbmthe axis ofsaid shatt sections and extending transvrsethereto, meansattachcd to said arms*and extending through s"aid shatt sections for'm'oving said arms toward each other into a load supporting position,and meansconnected to the adjacent ends Sof said shaftSectionstorturningthe same to etect movement et the arms between a firstposition extending transverse tO'the longitudinal axis of the frameand'a second position extending generally':longitudinally of the*frame.

5. A load handling apparatus conprising, an elongated frame, a firstpair of arm.mounting bracketsmounted at opposite sides of the frameadjacent one end thereof, a v

second pair of ar'm mounting brackets mounted at opposite sides of theframe adjacent the other ehd thereof,

arms on said first pair of braclcets and the arms on said second pair ofbrackets are movable toward and away from each other into and ont et aload supporting position, means yieldably urging the arms on each pairof brackets outwardly relative to each other to a load release position,and common means connected to tire arms on each pair of brackets formoving the arms toward each other to said load supporting position, saidcommon means including an extensible and retractible fluid operator, etcable connected to the arms of each pair, and means including a pulleyconnecting said fluid operator to said cable intermediate the ends etthe latter.

6. The combination with a lift apparatus including front and rear beams,means for elevating and lowering said beams, a carriage mounted on eachof said beams tor movement therealong, et a grapple trame attached tosaid carriages tor movement therewith along the beams, front and rearpairs et opposed grapple arms, means mounting said arms at one end onsaid trame for swinging movement about axes at the tront and rear endsof the trame in planes extending generaliy longitudinally et said tramebetween positions extending downwardly from saicl trame and positionsextending generally horizontally substantially in the plane et thetrame, and means to move the arm of said pairs toward and away from eachoti2er tor supporting a load therebetween.

7. In a load handling apparatus, a grapple comprising a horizontallyelongated trame section, a pair et grapple arms lying generally parallelto each otner in a common plane, means pivotally monnting one end eteach grapple arm at an opposite end et the trame section on axestransverse to the trame section and to said plane for pivotal movementof the grapple arms in said common plane toward and away from each otherto engage and release a load, horizontal shart means extendinglongitudinally et the frame section on which the pivotal mounting meansare mounted and supprting the arms for movement from a vertical positiondepending from the trame section to a horizontal position substantiallyat the level of the trame section, a lest motion connection .oetween thepivotal mounting means and the shatt means, and power means to turn theshatt means thereby to swing the arms from their vertical to theirhorizontal positions.

8. A load handling apparatus comprising a horizontally elongated trame,transverse trame sections at opposite ends of the trame, shattsjournalled on the trame sections and extending transverse to the tramelength, a grapple arm pivoted at each end et each shatt on axistransverse to the shart, the grapple arms pivoted to each shaft forminga pair movable toward and away from each other in a common plane toengage and release a load, and motor means to turn the shatts t0 swingthe grapple arms from vertical positions depending from the shatts to lihorizontal positions substantially in the plane of the trame and tramesections.

9. The load handling apparatus of claim 8 in which the grapple trameincludes longitudinally extending telescopically interfitting memberswhich are slidable relative to each other to adjust the length of thetrame.

10. in a load handling apparatus, a straddle type vehicle having a pairof spaced parallel gantry trames ot inverted U-shape, wheels supportingthe trames for movement over the ground, a horizontally elongatedgrapple trame, means supporting the grapple trame on the gantry tramesfor vertical movement relative thereto, two pairs et grapple armsmounted respectively adjacent to opposite ends et the grapple trame, thearms ot each pair lying in a plane transverse to the grapple tramelength, means pivotally mounting one end of each grapple arm of eachpair at an opposite side of the grapple trame on an axis parallel to thelength of the grapple trame and transverse to said planes for pivotalmovement of the grapple arms et each pair in one of said planes towardand away from each other to engage and release a load, means mountingthe grapple arms of each pair on the grapple trame for movement about ahorizontal axis transverse to the grapple trame length and parallel tosaid planes for movement from a vertical position depending from thepivotal mounting means to a horizontal position substantially at thelevel of the grapple trame for movement over a load, power means toswing the grapple arms toward and away from each other in said planes,and additional power means to swing the grapple arms from theirdepending position to their horizontal position.

11. The load handling apparatus ot claim 10 in which the grapple trameincludes longitudinally extending telescopically interfitting memberswhich are slidable relative to each other to adjust the length of theframe.

Reterences Citerl by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,175 9/01Condict 212129 1,714,945 5/29 Buhl 21438.42 1,962,700 6/34 Allard294-106 2,611,498 9/52 Broersma 214652 2,729,351 1/56 Greeley 214392 X2,821,318 1/58 Kendall 214-658 2,909,298 10/59 Baudhuin 214-396 OTHERRFRENCES Clark Equipment Company Brochure Upender Clamp Attachment, Dec.19, 1949.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

ERNEST A. FALLER, JR., Examiner.

10. IN A LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS, A STRADDLE TYPE VEHICLE HAVING A PAIROF SPACED PARALLEL GANTRY FRAMES OF INVERTED U-SHAPE, WHEELS SUPPORTINGTHE FRAMES FOR MOVEMENT OVER THE GROUND, A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATEDGRAPPLE FRAME, MEANS SUPPORTING THE GRAPPLE FRAME ON THE GANTRY FRAMESFOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, TWO PAIRS OF GRAPPLE ARMSMOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE GRAPPLE FRAME, THEARMS OF EACH PAIR LYING IN A PLANE TRANSVERSE TO THE GRAPPLE FRAMELENGTH, MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING ONE END OF EACH GRAPPLE ARM OF EACHPAIR AT AN OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE GRAPPLE FRAME ON AN AXIS PARALLEL TO THELENGTH OF THE GRAPPLE FRAME AND TRANSVERSE TO SAID PLANES FOR PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF THE GRAPPLE ARMS OF EACH PAIR IN ONE OF SAID PLANES TOWARDAND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO ENGAGE AND RELEASE A LOAD, MEANS MOUNTINGTHE GRAPPLE ARMS OF EACH PAIR ON THE GRAPPLE FRAME FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AHORIZONTAL AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE GRAPPLE FRAME LENGTH AND PARALLEL TOSAID PLANES FOR MOVEMENT FROM A VERTICAL POSITION DEPENDING FROM THEPIVOTAL MOUNTING MEANS TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY AT THELEVEL OF THE GRAPPLE FRAME FOR MOVEMENT OVER A LOAD, POWER MEANS TOSWING THE GRAPPLE ARMS